This document provides facts about several common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, and pubic lice. It dispels several myths, such as that only "trashy" people get STDs or that STDs always cause visible symptoms. Many STDs have no symptoms but can still be spread, and some like herpes and HIV can infect a person for life. Getting tested regularly is important for sexually active people, as some STDs can impact fertility if left untreated. Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent STDs.

1. Teens and STDs: Get the Facts

3. FACTS

4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus

7. TEXAS
HIV in Texas
Nearly 70,000 people in Texas are known to have HIV. It is
estimated that an additional 17,000HIV in Texas are living with
people in Texas
HIV, but are currently unaware of their status. The number of Texas are
Nearly 70,000 people in
people known to have HIV increased by 34% from 2005 to It is estimated that
known to have HIV. 2011.
Learn more about HIV in Texas (PDF : 199 kb). Posted 1/10/2013
an additional 17,000 people in Texas are
living with HIV, but are currently
unaware of their status. The number of
people known to have HIV increased by
34% from 2005 to 2011.

8. Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases, Deaths, and
People Living with HIV: Texas, 1980-2011
8,000 80,000
7,000 70,000
Living with HIV
New HIV Cases / Deaths
6,000 60,000
People Living with HIV
5,000 50,000
4,000 40,000
New HIV Cases
3,000 30,000
2,000 20,000
Deaths among HIV Cases
1,000 10,000
0 0
80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
Year

10. Myth: Only "trashy" people get STDs.
• Fact: STDs does NOT discriminate.
• Rich people get STDs. Poor people get them. Athletes get
them. Math geeks get them. CEOs and professors get them.
Even someone having sex for the first time can get an STD.
The only people who have no risk of getting an STD are
people who haven't had sex or any kind of sexual contact.

11. Myth: If your partner has an STD,
you'll see it.

12. • Fact: There's often no sign that a
person has an STD.
• Even doctors often can't tell by looking if people have STDs.
So they need to do tests, like bloodwork. People with STDs
might not know they have them: STDs don't always cause
symptoms. But it is possible to carry and spread the virus
without ever having an outbreak. Untreated STDs can add
up to serious health problems, like infertility (the inability
to have a baby) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which
may land you in the hospital.

13. The ONLY Safe Sex is NO SEX
• So much wrong information about sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) gets passed
around that it's no surprise the diseases do
too. Of course, the only way to be 100% sure
you won't get an STD like herpes, chlamydia,
or HIV, is not to have any type of sex
(abstinence). But if you do decide to have
sex, you'll need to stay informed and learn
what's true — and what's not.

14. Fact: You can get some STDs more
than just once.
•Some STDs are yours for life,
• like herpes and HIV.
•Others, like chlamydia and gonorrhea,
can be treated, but you may get
infected again if you have sexual
contact with someone who has them.

15. Chlamydia
Most people who have chlamydia
don’t know it since the disease
often has no symptoms.
•Chlamydia is the most commonly
reported STD in the United States.
•Sexually active females 25 years old
and younger need testing every year.
•Easy to cure, chlamydia can impact
a woman’s ability to have children if
left untreated.

16. Gonorrhea
Anyone who is sexually active can get
gonorrhea.
•If they occur, symptoms in men and
women vary depending on what part of
the body is infected: Gonorrhea can
affect the anus, eyes, mouth, genitals, or
throat.
•This disease can impact a woman’s
ability to have children if left
untreated.

17. Genital Herpes
• Genital herpes is a common STD, and most people
with genital herpes infection do not know they
have it.
• You can get genital herpes even if your
partner shows no signs of the infection.
• If you have any symptoms (like a sore on
your genitals, especially one that periodically recurs)
laboratory tests can help determine if you have genital
herpes.
• There is no cure for herpes, but treatment is
available to reduce symptoms and decrease the risk
of transmission to a partner.

18. Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by
a bacterium. Syphilis can cause long-term complications
and/or death if not adequately treated.
• Syphilis is easy to cure in its early stages.
• Signs and symptoms of syphilis include a firm, round,
small, and painless sore on the genitals, anus, or
mouth, or a rash on the body, especially on the
palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.
• During 2004–2008, rates of
P&S syphilis increased the
most among 15–24 year-old
men and women.

19. Pubic lice are tiny insects hat
infect the pubic hair area
and lay eggs. These lice can
also be found in armpit hair
and eyebrows. Symptoms:
Pubic lice causes itching in
the area covered by pubic
hair. Itching often gets worse
...